00x Final Filter

Elizabeth Warren in trouble after using ActBlue to fundraise for California fires – Washington Examiner

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is catching backlash for using ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform, to facilitate donations to California charities involved in wildfire recovery.

Warren posted an ActBlue link Saturday on X in support of two California charities but soon received a Community Note saying it “is not a link to charity. It is a link to a Democrat fundraising platform.”

When clicked, the link leads to a page with “Warren for Senate” at the top with descriptions of two charities, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, below.

“Your full donation will directly support these two organizations,” the page says.

Rep. Karen Bass called top member of Communist Party USA a ‘friend and mentor’ in eulogy: report – Fox News

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Rep.  Karen Bass, D-Calif., who is reportedly on Joe Biden’s shortlist of potential running mates, eulogized one of the top members of the Communist Party USA in 2017 and called him a “friend and mentor.”

Politico reported that Bass praised Oneil Marion Cannon on Jan. 30, 2017, in remarks that were inserted into the Congressional Record. The eulogy failed to mention Cannon’s role in the Communist Party USA, the report said.

The report comes at a time when Bass has been trying to distance herself from past controversial comments on Cuba. She most recently told NBC News that she is “not a socialist. I’m not a communist. I’ve belonged to one party my entire life and that’s the Democratic Party and I’m a Christian.”

Bass praised Cannon for his service in WWII and his “fight against injustice” that spanned his entire life, from New Orleans — where he was born — to his time in Los Angeles where he “fought to become the first African American member of the Printer’s Union.” She said he was “deeply involved in politics” and belonging to the Independent Progressive Party.

Politico reported that Cannon was a top member of the Communist Party USA for decades. A spokesman from Bass’ office told the website that she has always been a Democrat.

“The Congresswoman is friends with Kevin McCarthy and is not a Republican,” the spokesman said. Bass never shared her political ideology with Cannon, the spokesman said.

LA Fire Chief Made DEI A Top Department Priority, Docs Show– thefederalist.com
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Los Angeles Fire Department Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has been transforming the department with “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” according to documents obtained by The Federalist. Meanwhile, the department is strapped for resources — and city payroll glitches have left it struggling to even compensate its firefighters and paramedics correctly.

The city’s poor handling of recent wildfires sparked reports that Crowley and other department officials have been pushing DEI, with the diversity chief drawing a salary of $300,000. But The Federalist found Crowley, who has been fire chief since 2022, also distributed a “Strategic Plan” for 2023 to 2026 — advancing DEI across the department, as shown in various internal memos.

“Our Strategic Plan outlines our commitment to an organizational culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Crowley wrote in a July 2023 memo to staff, which The Federalist obtained from a firefighter who wished to remain unnamed. “We have an opportunity to expand, innovate, and establish systemic equality and inclusivity throughout the organization.”

Crowley’s wording may sound innocuous enough, but DEI is the left’s favorite buzzword for racial discrimination.

Journalists Echo Gavin Newsom’s ‘Misinformation’ Talking Points on California Wildfires– freebeacon.com
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‘Spreading as fast as the flames’

Wildfires are wreaking havoc on Los Angeles, a heavily Democratic city in a heavily Democratic state renowned for being a cesspool of corruption and incompetence. Naturally, the mainstream media have been arguing Republicans are to blame.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is inexplicably considered a strong contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, helpfully suggested “local folks” should “figure out” how to address the lack of water to fight the fires and found the time to sit down for a friendly chat with the Pod Save America bros. Newsom and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, who was traveling in Ghana when the fires started, are both Democrats, so mainstream journalists are unwilling (or fundamentally unable) to criticize their leadership in a time of crisis. “Speaking truth to power” only applies when Republicans are in charge.

Instead, the media have been regurgitating Newsom’s talking points about all the “hurricane-force winds” of right-wing “mis- and disinformation” swirling around on the internet, suggesting California’s elected (Democratic) leaders might have failed to adequately prepare for the wildfires, which are common in the Los Angeles area. MSNBC hosts and their guests appear to be competing amongst themselves to see who can come up with the dumbest puns involving fire-related disinformation, defined by most journalists as “information that makes Democrats look bad.”

Disinformation is “spreading as fast as the flames.” It’s “spreading, sorry to say it, like wildfire.” They’ve called it a “dumpster fire of disinformation,” as well as a “firehose, so to speak, of disinformation.” In this time of tragedy, it’s important to keep in mind that our nation’s esteemed journalists are indeed no less courageous than the actual firefighters combating the actual flames.

Tyler Perry blasts insurance companies over ‘greed’ amid LA fires – USA TODAY
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Tyler Perry is speaking out against insurance companies amid devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

The movie producer took to Instagram Sunday to voice his dissatisfaction with insurance providers who have canceled plans in the state as wildfires become more common.

“Does anyone else find it appalling that insurance companies can take billions of dollars out of communities for years and then, all of a sudden, be allowed to cancel millions of policies for the very people they became rich on?” Perry wrote.

Billionaire couple faces criticism over water control during Los Angeles wildfires – Yeni Şafak English
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Stewart and Lynda Resnick, a billionaire couple who own around 60% of an important California water resource, have come under intense criticism for using more water than every home in Los Angeles combined, with critics arguing that their actions may be hindering efforts to contain the city’s ongoing wildfires.

The Resnicks, California’s wealthiest farming family, with a $13 billion fortune, have come under renewed criticism for their alleged overuse of water during Los Angeles’ worst wildfires in history, according to the UK’s Daily Mail.

The controversy traces back to 1994, when their advisors played a key role in the Monterey Plus Agreement, a deal that transferred the taxpayer-funded Kern Water Bank from public ownership to private control.

Originally designed to ensure a stable water supply during droughts, the bank is now seen as a tool benefiting private interests.

Bombshell Memo Spells Disaster for Karen Bass Amid California Wildfires – PJ Media– pjmedia.com
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Over the past week, the raging wildfires in Los Angeles County have laid bare the ineptitude and misguided priorities of leadership at every level from the state to local government. Scrutiny of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has particularly intensified, and for good reason. For starters, she was in Ghana as the fires broke out, despite a pledge not to travel abroad. The optics were horrible, but the real scandal dates back at least two months.

In November, LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley sent a memo warning of severe staffing shortages and training gaps. The department was dangerously undermanned, yet the mayor’s office reportedly ignored or even buried the warning.

“Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley warned city officials in November that her department had about half as many firefighters as it needed,” reports the Washington Free Beacon. “When deadly wildfires struck the city two months later, Mayor Karen Bass’s administration pulled Crowley’s memo from its website.”

The report reveals that on November 18, Crowley wrote to the city’s fire commissioners — a five-member board appointed by Bass — urging them to relay her concerns to Bass and the city council. She highlighted that the fire department’s staffing levels had remained stagnant for decades, even as the city’s population grew significantly.

Death toll from Palisades and Eaton fires climbs to 25. What we know about those killed – Los Angeles Times
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The number of confirmed deaths from the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires climbed to 25 as of Tuesday night.

Nine of the victims died in the Palisades fire and 16 in the Eaton fire in Altadena, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner and L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Two of the victims have been officially identified by the medical examiner, and The Times has identified 12 others.

Victor Shaw, 66, died from smoke inhalation and burn injuries at his Altadena home, according to thyes, e medical examiner. Charles Mortimer, 84, of Pacific Palisades died in a hospital from a heart attack, smoke inhalation and burns, according to the medical examiner.

Additional Palisades fire victims include avid hang-glider Arthur Simoneau, 69; Australian child actor Rory Sykes, 32; Malibu surfer Randall Miod, 55; and Annette Rossilli, who was in her 80s.

Additional Eaton fire victims include Erliene Kelley, 83; father and son Anthony Mitchell Sr. and Justin Mitchell; Dalyce Curry, 95; Kim Winiecki, 77; Rodney Kent Nickerson, 82; Zhi Feng Zhao, 84; and Evelyn McClendon.

Fire tornadoes are a risk under California’s extreme wildfire conditions – The Associated Press
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As if they aren’t already facing enough, firefighters in California also could encounter fire tornadoes — a rare but dangerous phenomenon in which wildfires create their own weather.

The National Weather Service warned Tuesday that the combination of high winds and severely dry conditions have created a “particularly dangerous situation” in which any new fire could explode in size. The advisory, which runs into Wednesday, didn’t mention tornadoes, but meteorologist Todd Hall said they’re possible given the extreme conditions.

24 dead as fire crews try to corral Los Angeles blazes before winds return this week– japantoday.com
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Firefighters scrambled Sunday to make further progress against wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed 24 people in the Los Angeles area as forecasters again warned of dangerous weather with the return of strong winds this week. At least 16 people were missing, and authorities said that number was expected to rise.

The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with sustained winds of 50 mph (80 kph) and gusts in the mountains reaching 70 mph (113 kph). The most dangerous day will be Tuesday, said weather service meteorologist Rich Thompson.

“You’re going to have really strong gusty Santa Ana winds, a very dry atmosphere and still very dry brush, so we still have some very critical fire weather conditions out there,” Thompson said at a community meeting Saturday night.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said 70 additional water trucks arrived to help firefighters fend off flames spread by renewed gusts. “We are prepared for the upcoming wind event,” Marrone said. Fire retardant dropped by aircraft Sunday will act as a barrier along hillsides, officials said.

Fierce Santa Anas have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires sparked last week into infernos that leveled entire neighborhoods around the city where there has been no significant rainfall in more than eight months.

FCC Crews Stationed In Los Angeles To Track Wildfire Impact On Telecommunications. – Insideradio.com
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Radio’s resiliency during a natural disaster has once again been on display in Los Angeles as wildfires continue to prompt evacuations and put lives at risk. No radio stations have been knocked off the air despite a close call last week at the Mount Wilson tower site. The Federal Communications Commission now says it has spectrum survey teams on the ground in the city at the request of state officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel says they are at work conducting an impact assessment on cellular communications in Los Angeles County as many of the fires have been in remote, hill areas where cell towers are located.

“This data is used to identify communications gaps, which informs emergency response activities and identifies where communications assets are needed,” Rosenworcel said Monday. She said the FCC has also issued several Special Temporary Authority to keep communications operational. “While communications outages remain minimal, the FCC will continue to closely monitor developments and do whatever we can to help ensure that residents and first responders are able to communicate and stay informed during this crisis,” Rosenworcel said.

The wildfires area also showing some limitations to the Wireless Alert System with an evacuation order mistakenly issued to nearly 10 million Los Angeles County residents along with some residents of neighboring counties.

The FCC is also looking into how investigating and finding solutions to how “echoes” of erroneous emergency alerts sent to mobile phones continued to land on phones across LA County, alarming residents already facing the horrifying effects of destructive wildfires that are still burning. The preliminary investigation has pointed to issues with telecommunications systems, likely due to the fires’ impacts on cellular towers. A software vendor that works with the county says it has added safeguards to its software.

“As we work through these serious issues and develop solutions, we want to emphasize that Wireless Emergency Alerts are just one part of the County’s multifaceted emergency notification system,” the county says in a statement.

 

 

FEMA Reactivates Online Rumor Response Page to Combat Los Angeles Fire Misinformation – Campus Safety Magazine
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reactivated its rumor response website to address misinformation about Southern California’s current spate of wildfires. The agency posted similar information after last fall’s hurricanes Helene and Milton.

These are some of the false claims the page is addressing:

• FEMA only provides a one-time payment when you apply for assistance: False
• FEMA will take my property and land after a disaster: False
• FEMA is handing out vouchers for disaster assistance: False
• I can be paid $3,000 a week to assist with storm cleanup: False
• If you receive a grant from FEMA you will get less money from Social Security: False
• Survivors can’t apply if they have insurance: False
• I am automatically registered for FEMA assistance if I reported damage to my local parish, county officials, or a disaster relief organization: False
• FEMA will reimburse me for a generator I purchase: It depends.

The FEMA helpline is 1-800-621-3362.

LAFD Is Also Addressing Misinformation

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has also been addressing misinformation about the fires the area is currently experiencing.

Newsom Climbs To Moral High Ground As California Incinerates– thefederalist.com
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If excuses were good for putting out fires, California’s Democrat chief executive Gavin Newsom could have his state fixed in a jiffy.

As California sailed into the weekend literally ablaze, Newsom thought there was no better time to sit for a half-hour podcast interview with a former Obama administration official. It was beautiful and truly everything we’ve grown to expect from a Democrat in a position of authority.

In 30 minutes, Newsom explained that every criticism leveled at him is “misinformation,” that he is just as much a victim as anyone who saw his home burn to ashes, and that he’s helping fix the problem even though it’s not his responsibility.

Asked by former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau if there was anything his administration “could have done to be better prepared for a fire” that has so far killed at least two dozen people and incinerated over 40,000 acres, Newsom — I’m not kidding you — asked the public to give him a little more credit. “Well, you always have to have some humility and grace as it relates to that question,” he said, “and I’m very self-critical in that respect.”

He has humility and grace, plus he’s very self-critical, so have a heart, why don’t you?

When Favreau then suggested to Newsom that he’s “ultimately responsible as the … governor of the state” and that the newly announced investigation into a water shortage appeared to some as an effort to “pass the blame,” the Democrat governor assured the audience that no, no, no, that’s not it at all. He’s actually in the same boat as the people who want accountability for as many as seven separate wildfires so far, a number of which are still torching the state’s biggest city after a full week.

“So, I’m the governor of California. I want to know the answer,” he said. “I’ve got that question, I can’t tell you by how many people — ‘What happened?’ My own team saying, ‘What happened?’ And I want to get the answers.”

Now wait a minute! Who’s in charge here? The governor wants answers!

Then he went back to needing you to do a little more for him.

“You have to have a little bit of grace,” Newsom said before adding, “But no one has any patience anymore in this weaponized — back to the grievance of Trump.”

FAA says drone collided with firefighting aircraft flying over Palisades Fire – MSN
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A firefighting aircraft was grounded on Thursday after it was struck by a drone while flying over the Palisades Fire near the Pacific Coast, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The incident occurred on the third day of the wildfire, one of five active wildfires across Los Angeles County. The aircraft landed safely and the incident is being investigated by the FAA, the agency said in a statement.

“It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands,” according to the agency. “The FAA has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones in the (temporary flight restrictions).”

The FAA said it could impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with operations involving wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response while temporary flight restrictions are in place. The agency has implemented several temporary flight restrictions in the Los Angeles region to protect firefighting aircraft.